I Love Criminology And Psychology

There are a lot of people in custody for what can be considered minor offences, eg., drug possession, minor theft, pretty much any offence that doesn't physically harm or overly inconvenience others. My thought is that these offenders could be dealt with more effectively by way of community based sentences, either home detention and/or enforced program participation.

Offenders with drug problems could be dealt with by way of enforced AOD programs and ongoing community support and counselling. In my experience, a lot of theft is associated with drug addiction. So counselling and ongoing community support may also work for those offences.

As and extra point, the legalisation of drugs and their supply by the Government would reduce the impact of the black market on users, giving them the opportunity to get drugs without having to commit offences.

Your thoughts and opinions are very welcome.

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AngieB · 36-40, F

I can agree with all of that though I have mixed feelings about the last point. Prison works in keeping criminals off the streets but also simply puts them in contact with a lot of other criminals. Less-dangerous offenders can be better helped onto a legal path with other solutions.

The sad thing is that probation is grossly underfunded in the UK so more get sent to prison. And in the US where some jails are privatised and the businesses that run them get money from having more in prison (and so lobby politicians to send more to prison)...it seems even worse.

That said, drugs can be dangerous, and the trade in them definitely harms a lot of people both in the country they're finally used in and around the world. While 'winning the war on drugs' is a rather pointless exercise (because while the demand still exists, it can never as I see it be won), I think sometimes it's important to send a signal.

Bushranger · 70-79, M

@AngieB In the Australian context (and I'll even need to be more specific and say NSW because that's the system I'm most familiar with) the Probation and Parole system is also underfunded and, in my opinion, poorly managed. The Government changed the name a few years back to Community Corrections, which I think gives an idea of how intend the service to be run. There is now an expectation of sending parolee's back to gaol for minor, often technical breaches that could easily be dealt with in the community.

I understand what you say about drugs, but to me they are only a symptom of deeper problems that prohibition and custody don't really address.